Fiber spool and process



Jan. 22, 1929.

, 1,699,704" A. L.. H. LEDEBOER FIBER sPooL AND PRocEss Filed Jan. 4, 1927 3 sheets-sneet 1 FIS-ll.- FIE E Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,704

A. L. H. LEDEBOR FIBER sPoQL AND PROCESS Filed Jan. 4, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 b'I|::l. JZ"':1..L |:E..

-/e u A A. L. H. LEDEB'OER FIBER SPQOL AND PROCESS Filed Jan. 4, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet FFL-15-3.1-

Patented J an. 2 2, -1929.

ADRIAN' LE. LEDEBEB., 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA., ASSIGNB TOCHAIRIilESA H. SMITH, 0F PAWTUCKEL RHODE ISLAND. l

rmEa srooL im rnocnss.

Application led January 4, 1927. Serial No. 158,937.

This invention relatesI generally to a slplool of novel construction and process of ma 'ng the same.

Large quantities of spools are consumed annually in the sale of thread, yarns, ribbons and other such goods. These spools are at presentV being manufactured from soft white woods. by the use of automatic wood turning lathes. Whilefwooden spools have proven satisfactory, vsuitable wood for their manufacture is becoming s arce in this country, and a continued increase in the cost of producing lathes are expensive to maintain and operate and a large percentage of the raw material is necessarily wasted.

It is an object'of this invention todevise a spool which may be manufactured from cheap raw material without the use of wood turning lathes.

It is a further obj ect of this invention to de'- vise a strong durable composite spool of fibrous material.

' It is a further object of this invention to devise a spool of homogeneous material containing iiber felted such a manner as to provide strong and durable end Hanges.

I t is another object of this invention to devise a novel process for manufacturing a spool of fibrous material.

.Further objects of this invention will appear from the following description in which I have set forth the preferred embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the., state of the prior art. y

Referring to the drawin 1 F'gs. 1 to 4 inclusive lllustrate various forms assumed by the fibrous material in the manufacture of the spool.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a lfinished spool made Jin accordance with this invend tion. v

Fig. 6 is a. cross :sectional view `taken through the spobl shown-in Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive illustrate the'gsteps of the process necessary to form the fibrous material into the shapes shown in Figs. 1. to` '4 inclusive.

' Fig. 10 is`a side elevational viewin cross section showing the final step in the process of forming the blank-shown in Fi 4.

Figs. 11, l2 and 13 illustrate the steps of 'from low tion 1s inevitable. Furthermore, wood turnfarming a spool out, of the blank shown in Fig. 4.

l vThe distinguishing characteristics of the spool of this invention may be best understood by first describing the process of manufacture.

The material which I .prefer to employ -is cellulose fiber, commonly known as wood pu or paper pulp. This material not only has the requisite properties for the production of a high grade composite spool, but is also a relatively cheap material since it may be made grade woods or other vegetable bers. If the cellulose pulp is colored because of the nature of. the .wood or ve eta-ble fiber from which Iit is. manufacture preferably bleached so that the iinal'spool will be white in color. A mass of this cellulose ber is subjected to pressure in suitable dies, the material being initially in a plastic state as by mixing the same with water. For

example, a mass having proper plasticity .may have the proportions of one or more grains of pulp to, one cubic inch of water. If a `definite amountof pulp is. employed for forming a given size of spool, the hardness of the spool may be controlled by varying the percentage of pulp in the water.

lnFig.A 1 the mass 1() represents a certain volume of plastic cellulose pulp which is introduced into dies to form the mass 11 shown in Fig. 2. Referring toFigs. 7 and 8 a suitable apparatus for treating the cellulosepulp is diagrammatically illustrated 'as comprising movable dies 12 and 13 having-opposed curved faces 15 and 16, the dies being preferablyheated; The plastic mass 10 is `lirst positioned in a pocket 18 and is then forced as by "means of plunger 19 into thespace between dies 13 and 14. -A core or pin 21 is provided intermediatethe'dies so as to form a central passageway through the pulp lmass.` Pres-- Asure is then applied to the dies 12' and -13 to form 'the mass into the shape shown in Figs.

9 and 10.V TheP water or other liquid squeezed :from the mass during this. operation' maybe removed through the hollow dies which are shown as provided withperforations 22 and 23 for this purpose.: It will'be notedthat this pressure. is Iapplied lateral to, .or at right angles to the-axis of pin 21. lWhen pressure is appliedi'to cellulose pulp, the fiber tends'to arrange itself in directions substantially normal to the direction of the. applied force. Therefore, as shownin Fig. ,10, the fiber' 24 fiber 24 of this blank have been felted together and are arranged in the general direction-of the axis of passageway 27. This blank is then placed between another set of heated dies 28 and 29 which have their faces formed to provide the spool flanges.V Thus the die faces 31 and 32 are provided with end pockets 33 and 34, which when the dies are in closed position form fianges ofthe desired size'upon the spool ends. To maintain the passageway 27, a pin 36 is extended through the blank and the dies are then moved to the closed posi'- tion shown in Fig. 12. The intermediate portion of the pulp mass is thus further comressed and the pockets 33 and 34 are filled to orm the spool ianges. During this step of the process the fiber 37 constituting the fianges arrange themselves at an angle to the spool axis, because the fiber near the ends of blank 26 tends to remain substantially parallel to the deformed surfaces forming the inner faces of the flanges. However, to fur.- ther strengthen the spool flanges, plungers 38 and 39 are provided to press against the spool ends. As shown in Fig. 13 when dies I 28 and 29 have been moved to closed position l plungers 3 3Y and 39 are forced inwardly to 4compress the fiber inthe spool ends. This pressure providesfa layer of felted fiber 41 lying in a general direction parallel to the ical agitators.

planes of the spool ends, which serve to rc inforce `the flanges.

The finished spool is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the cross section of Fig. 6 showing the intermediate fiber 42 arranged substantially parallel'to the spoolaxis and the end fiber 41 arranged at an angle to the axis or substantially in the direction of the plane of the spool ends. It is likewise characteristic of the product that the fiber of the surface layer is practically all arranged parallel to the adjacent surface, and is felted in such a manner as to reinforce the spool against all possible stresses. If desired, one or both plungers 38 and 39 may be provided with raised or depressed letters or othermarks for stamping upon the spool ends..- i

It is obvious that various chemicals can be mixed with the pulp to increase its'hardness and durability.` Such chemicals are introduced and thoroughly mixed with the pulp before introduction into the dies. For example, the mixture of pulp, water and chemical may be thoroughly mixed in a vat by mechan- Care should be taken to introduce no chemicals which might discolor the spool or which may injure the threadhor` other goods to be wound upon the same. Examples of binders which may be used to add to the hardness of the spool are'starch, glues, solutions of sodium or potassium silicate, and these substances may be used with such fillers as magnesia, borax, talcum, lime or other such material. Suitable sizes may also be employed if a smoother surface is desired. Instead of premixing the chemical'with the pulp and water, it may be introduced into thc pulp mass while inthe dies.` 'For example, pin 21 may be madehollow'and perforated so that chemicals introducedV into this pin or tube will be injected into the pulp mass.

The product of this invention has all the desirable characteristics of Wooden spools, and has the additional advantage of being manufactured from a cheap inexhaustible supply of raw material. Furthermore, the process of manufacture is readily adaptable to automatic machinery, which is chea to maintain and requires a minimum of skllled labor for its operation.

I claim:

lnAn article of manufacture comprising a spool made of a homogeneous integral mass containing felted fiber, the liber of the intermediate portion of the spoolextending in the same general direction as the spool axis.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a spool made of a homogeneous integral mass containing felted fiber, the ber in the intermediate portion of the spool extending in the same general direction as the spool axis, and the fibers in the spool flanges lying at an angle to the spool axis.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a spool made of a homogeneous integral mass containing felted fiber, the fiber in the intermediate portion of the spool extending in the same general direction as the spool axis, and the fibers in the spool flanges extending in the same general direction as the planes of the spool ends. f Y

4. In a process of making a spool of fibrous material, the steps of forming a felted blank of the material, and then compressing the blank laterally to formthe shape of a finished s ool.

p5. In a process of making a spool of fibrous material, the steps of forming a cylindrical blank ofthe material, and then compressing the blank laterally to form the shape of a finished, spool.

6. 'In a process of making a spool of brous material, the steps of forming a felted blank of the material With an axial passage, and then compressing'the blank laterally to form the shape of a finished spool.

7 In a process of making a spool-of fibrous 'material, the steps of applying lateral pressure to a plastic mass of the material to cause the fiber to arrange itself substantially no1'-l mal to the direction of force and applying pressure to the ends of the mass to arrange the fihers adjacent the spool ends in-a direcr to the mass to felt the ber in-the intermediate tion substantially normal tothe spool axis.

8.- In a-process ofmaking a spool of fibrous' .material, the steps of applying pressure at opposite ends of a fibrous mass to arrange `the ers adjacent the spool ends at an angleto the spool axis, and applying lateral pressure portionof the spool. l v 9, In a process of making a spool of fibrous material comprising forming a felted blank ofthe material by lateral pressure to a plastic mass of the fiber, shaping the blankinto a ing principally of felted cellulose fiber; the

fiber in the intermediate portion of the spool extending in the same general direction as the spool .axis and the liber of the spool Hanges extending in they same .general direction va the planes 'of the spool ends.

m hand. y

y ADRIAN L. H. LEDEBOER.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto setl 

